Why buy a Sadowsky?

[stevensivak]

It does seem a bit odd that the price points for the German basses eclipses the NYC prices...
I might understand it if a custom order from Germany was delivered quicker than a NYC bass,
which for the most part are all custom ordered.
Was Roger unable to keep up with the demand?

 

[Nebadon2000]

Was Roger unable to keep up with the demand?

My guess is to make a Sadowsky Custom Bass more accessible to Europe and Warwick is more than capable with there 'Masterbuilt"
Division

 

[Watchootognbout]

With the exception of the five string single cut,everything is a FSO.
I do not gravitate to Sadowsky.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I have one of the last Elis Hann era Satin basses that I’ll never part with.

Light, punchy and DIFFERENT, just makes me say “wow” every time I touch it.

It took some time to get the preamp dialed in, but now I love the sound she makes.

The visit to the shop, meeting Roger and getting his tour was an experience all in itself.

 

[petch]

I have one of the last Elis Hann era Satin basses that I’ll never part with.

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[rmayer]

I have one of the last Elis Hann era Satin basses that I’ll never part with.

Light, punchy and DIFFERENT, just makes me say “wow” every time I touch it.

It took some time to get the preamp dialed in, but now I love the sound she makes.

The visit to the shop, meeting Roger and getting his tour was an experience all in itself.
View attachment 7396714

This was mine, also late in their production run. Very sorry I sold it. Tempted to look into Ellis’s new basses, but not a fan of that headstock.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

The man makes very good basses for sure, I have one and it will stay here. But it seems like he release the same story in the for of a video every couple of years or so.

 

[burk48237]

Marketing fluff and mythology.

No way to shield before 79? Rubbish, just ask Alembic and EMG, let alone several decades of basic electronics before that.

'Transistors are the closest you can get to tubes' more rubbish as the transfer functions are not at all alike. The only way they are similar is that they're discrete, rather than being formed on the same substrate in an opamp, where the tolerances are also much better controlled.

Nonsense, Roger did not state he was the only one shielding, only that the Fender basses (which sadly had horrible QC in that era) were not properly shielded.

As far as transistors, and I wish Roger would have stated this, he uses FET's which are much warmer sounding than OP amp or standard transistors. I remember the same thing with many amp manufacturers going to FETs to get a more tube like sound. I will say Rogers pre is much warmer and more musical than many of the other Pre's out there many of which tend to sound Hi-Fi and clinical to me. I own 3 of Rogers basses now and before you say I have no idea what I'm talking about I have owned Alembic, Yamaha, Tobias, Pedulla, Kubicki, Fender with the Suhr Pre, Warwick , etc, And Rogers pre amp WORKS. Now if you like something else better that's fine. I'm not a snob on the deal, but there is a reason that recording studio's in NYC and Nashville are littered with Sadowsky players. And for the amount of basses Roger has built, the amount that are in the hands of serious working pro's is a statement that it is not Marketing fluff and Mythology.

 

[GIBrat51]

I think Roger Sadowsky gives a nice explanation of construction and electronics philosophy.

Well...
I had written my usual canned answer as to why I'd never buy a Sadowsky; too expensive for a faux Fender; offset bodies suck; etc., etc. But, I deleted it, and watched Roger's video. I have to admit it; he makes a lot of sense. Enough, at least, to make me seriously look at his website. Seriously enough, that I've filled out a build sheet, to explore the possibility of maybe getting a left handed, 4-string P-body bass; lined fretless; with '60's location JJ hum canceling pickups. They've acknowledged the order, so... we'll see what happens from there. Don't know what the thing's gonna cost, but... I'm in the happy position of not having to worry much about the $$'s. At this point in my life? More worried about still being around when it's finished...

 

[maturanesa]

If I got nothing better than weekend festivals and wedding gigs the next 40 years as a serious hobbyist, I might as well pair my modest musical existence with an epic instrument to enjoy to ride.

Then you get your first professional gig and producer ask for a passive P bass

 

[maturanesa]

My guess is to make a Sadowsky Custom Bass more accessible to Europe and Warwick is more than capable with there 'Masterbuilt"
Division

That means is just a Warwick made bass with Sadowsky specs

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That means is just a Warwick made bass with Sadowsky specs

Is that a bad thing? Warwicks are high quality instruments that often cost much more than Sadowsky’s. Roger Sadowsky has stated several times that Warwick’s facilities and the skill level of its workforce made them an attractive candidate to produce his basses.

 

[maturanesa]

Is that a bad thing? Warwicks are high quality instruments that often cost much more than Sadowsky’s. Roger Sadowsky has stated several times that Warwick’s facilities and the skill level of its workforce made them an attractive candidate to produce his basses.

No. I love Warwicks. Its my favorite brand. But i would say Warwicks are the opposite of a lightweight jazz bass with thin neck which is the thing Sadowsky is famous for

 

[Dr. Cheese]

No. I love Warwicks. Its my favorite brand. But i would say Warwicks are the opposite of a lightweight jazz bass with thin neck which is the thing Sadowsky is famous for

The folks at Warwick have proven they are more than capable of making FSO’s. I own two, and I have played maybe eight others, made in Germany and China. Warwick can handle their business.

 

[WG Plum]

All I know is that I had a chance to play Roger Baer’s fretless Sadowsky Jazz and it was one the very best feeling and sounding (through his personal rig no less) basses I’ve had the pleasure of having in my hands.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Run your hands over every surface of a NYC bass and you will find that every edge and corner has been slightly softened. For some reason (cost and time) less expensive similarly CNC'ed basses do not get that level of attention. So while the use of CNC machines for bodies and necks may be ubiquitous, the fit and feel of his basses is on a different level.... and that level, in his case, utilizes USA workers with USA overhead...

Truth...one reason I would chase orphan guitars with good bones out in the wild so I could do the fret dress, rolled edges etc...ive played enough 50s 60s USA guitars to understand that level of workmanship..I'm glad to see USA workers playing a part of the process.

 

[GTHintz]

It would be great if the one intended for the USA were sent through the NYC shop for a quality check and final setup like Lakland or MTD. It would great if all North American instruments passed through the NYC shop. For reasons that we cannot go into here, that may not be feasible. I just know Michael Tobias does this with a small shop of less than ten employees.

That's why I put original Tobias and MTD above many builders. Also once you go asymmetrical neck you won't want to go back. Never played Lakland but I'd definitely try one.

 

[Passinwind]

All I know is that I had a chance to play Roger Baer’s fretless Sadowsky Jazz and it was one the very best feeling and sounding (through his personal rig no less) basses I’ve had the pleasure of having in my hands.

Same with one of Roger's fretted ones. And I genuinely have no love at all for fretted basses or FSOs...go figure!

 

[pb9717]

When I initially encoutered a Sadowsky for the first time in person around 2004, it was an MV4 Metro in a boutique shoppe in Jersey. I thought, “ Whats the fuss about?” It appeared to be a well built FSO, nothing more. i also was not a Jazz bass guy, playing a Ken SMith US Chuck Rainer all thru the 90’s. I didnt consider it again for 5 years. I had moved to US and then early Korean Lakland 55’s. Then I discovered the Modern in 2008. I got a metroline modern 5 with a Rosewood board and no VTC, and loved it. I never felt it needed a VTC. I’ve been pretty much a sadowsky guy since. I’ve had an MV5 ESP made Japan metro express too, but Ive always gone back to the Modern. And to this day, its my #1.

 

[chris_b]

I tried a Sadowsky Metroline J/MM in a shop yesterday. Made in Germany to Roger's specs, it had a huge and wonderful sound. . . . and weighed less than 8lbs. I think I may have found a replacement for my much heavier and also wonderful sounding Japanese Metro.